United News of Bangladesh

The BRICS group of emerging economies on Saturday expressed concern over rising tensions in the Middle East and condemned the use of sanctions not authorized by the U.N., as the leaders met in New Delhi to strengthen their position in global affairs seen as dominated by the West. The meeting, which included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, voiced concern over “deliberate attacks” on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under the U.N. atomic energy agency's safeguards, saying nuclear safety and security must be protected during armed conflicts. The statement was seen as indirect criticism of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The leaders also took aim at unilateral sanctions not authorized by the U.N. Security Council. They did not name any countries, but Russia, one of the founding members of BRICS, has faced Western sanctions following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “We call for the elimination of such unlawful measures, which undermine international law and the principles and purposes of the U.N. Charter,” the joint statement said. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East challenge BRICS unity BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. It has since expanded to 11 members, representing about half the world’s population and a significant share of global economic output. The group has increasingly called for greater representation for developing countries in global institutions. It has sought to raise its profile by promoting alternatives to Western-dominated financial institutions and positioning itself as the voice of developing nations and emerging economies. India is hosting this year's summit, attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pezeshkian and counterparts from the other eight BRICS members. Concerns have grown that the Iran war, triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, may expand as fighting escalated between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with rising U.S.-China tensions, are also testing the bloc’s ability to find common ground among countries with competing geopolitical interests. Modi stresses BRICS is not a counter to West In his address, Modi sought to ease concerns that BRICS was intended to counter Western-led alliances. “BRICS is not against anyone,” he said, adding that the bloc had reached a “coming of age” moment in which the Global South must evolve into a “rule-shaper” in global governance. “It is time for us to translate our unity and consensus in BRICS into concrete outcomes,” he said. Modi also proposed a BRICS seafarers’ network to strengthen the safety and welfare of maritime workers, particularly as disruptions to maritime trade from the war in Iran have heightened risks for mariners. Russia and China seek to expand influence China and Russia see BRICS as a way to reduce Western dominance, particularly that of the United States, while strengthening cooperation among developing economies. Putin called for expanding the U.N. Security Council to give greater representation to Asia, Africa and Latin America, saying it would improve the body’s effectiveness, Russian state news agency Interfax reported Saturday. Speaking at the summit, Putin said the shift toward a multipolar world was facing resistance from countries “accustomed to thinking in colonial categories,” accusing them of using tariffs, sanctions and “brute force” to contain rising competitors. He said the tensions were undermining the international system but stressed that Russia still viewed the U.N. Charter as the foundation of international law. Iran has also pushed for mechanisms that could reduce the bloc’s reliance on Western financial systems and shield members from economic pressure, as Tehran faces sweeping sanctions and a U.S. blockade. “One of the most important steps is to expand the use of national currencies in trade among the members,” Pezeshkian told reporters on Friday. China, meanwhile, is leveraging the grouping to deepen its influence within the bloc and position it as a counterweight to U.S. power. Speaking at the summit, Xi said China will work with BRICS members in playing its “due role” to forge peace in the Middle East, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. BRICS countries should “serve as vanguards for maintaining peace and stability” and “oppose violations of other countries’ sovereignty,” Xi said. India balances strategic partnerships For India, the summit highlights its effort to maintain strategic ties with Russia and Iran while deepening relations with the U.S. and Europe. New Delhi has sought to balance its longstanding partnerships with Moscow and Tehran with efforts to expand economic, defense and technology ties with Washington and other Western nations. India has maintained close ties with both Moscow and Tehran despite the war in Ukraine and tensions between Iran and the U.S., while calling for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts. Modi met Putin and Pezeshkian separately in New Delhi on Friday ahead of the summit. India is also hoping the forum will help ease its longstanding strained ties with China. Modi and Xi are expected to hold talks later Saturday, a meeting that could help consolidate a diplomatic thaw between the two countries after border tensions escalated in 2020. In May, BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement over the Iran war, forcing India to issue a chair’s summary instead.

Jatiya Chhatra Shakti (JCS), the student wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), elected its new central and Dhaka University (DU) unit leadership on Saturday at its first-ever national council, held at the Aparajeyo Bangla Sculpture on the DU campus. Abu Baker Majumder, the organisation’s outgoing general secretary, was elected central president, while Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury, who previously served as president of the DU unit, was elected general secretary. Abu Touhid Mohammad Siam was elected organisational secretary of the central committee. In the DU unit, Hasib Al Islam was elected president, Ferdous Aiyam general secretary and Md Johir Raihan Ripon organisational secretary. Al Amin Sarkar, chief commissioner of the council and outgoing general secretary of the JCS DU unit, announced the results. He also served as head of the preparatory and election committees for the council. The central committee results were announced immediately after the DU unit results at the same programme. NCP Convener Nahid Islam, who is also the chief whip of the opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad, attended the council as the chief guest. Several NCP lawmakers and senior party leaders were also present. The day-long council began with registration at 9:00am, followed by voting by councillors from 10:00am to noon. A discussion session was held in the afternoon, while a rally and a cultural programme were organised in the evening. The council was the first national council of the organisation since it was renamed Jatiya Chhatra Shakti last year. It was previously known as the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad.

BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. It has since expanded to 11 members, representing about half the world’s population and a significant share of global economic output. The group has increasingly called for greater representation for developing countries in global institutions. It has sought to raise its profile by promoting alternatives to Western-dominated financial institutions and positioning itself as the voice of developing nations and emerging economies. India is hosting this year's summit, attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pezeshkian and counterparts from the other eight BRICS members. Concerns have grown that the Iran war, triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, may expand as fighting escalated between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with rising U.S.-China tensions, are also testing the bloc’s ability to find common ground among countries with competing geopolitical interests.    

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said formal implementation of the Teesta Master Plan will begin in 2027. He made the remarks while addressing a gathering as the chief guest at Khuniagach SC High School ground in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila on Saturday afternoon. The event was organised with the aim of empowering women, improving the standard of sports and building an “enlightened Lalmonirhat”. The minister said the government is working actively to implement the Teesta Master Plan, which he said would play a vital role in resolving the long-standing problems faced by people living along the Teesta River and in surrounding areas. He also called for collective efforts to combat social problems including drug abuse, gambling, child marriage and dowry. At the event, 11 sewing machines and sports equipment were distributed among various educational institutions. Besides, 20 kilograms of government relief rice were distributed to each of 750 families affected by floods and river erosion.

The bodies of three people who went missing on Friday while bathing in the Shitalakshya River in Shibpur upazila were recovered on Saturday, while a fourth person remains missing. The deceased were identified as Md Obaidullah, 38, of Bhangal village in Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur; his sister-in-law Shanta, 16; and Sourav, 20, son of Majnu Miah of Char-Lakhpur village in Shibpur. The missing person is Md Shanto, 24, son of Jewel Miah, from Tangail. They tragic incident occurred on Friday afternoon in the Shitalakshya River near Lakhpur village under Dulalpur Union. According to the local residents, Obaidullah had gone to his father-in-law Mojibur Sheikh's home in Char-Lakhpur with his wife and child. Around 3pm on Friday, Shanta entered the river to bathe and was swept away by the strong current. Obaidullah, her eldest sister's husband, and Shanto, her sister's son, entered the river in an attempt to rescue her but were also swept away. Several locals subsequently joined the search. Sourav, a neighbour's son, also entered the river but was swept away. Later, the Fire Service was informed and began a search operation. The search continued until around 10pm but was suspended for the night after the missing persons could not be located. A diving team from Bhairab resumed the search on Saturday morning. After a prolonged operation amid strong currents, divers recovered Sourav's body around 8am from a location some distance from the incident site. Obaidullah's body was recovered around 9am. Shanta's body was later found in the Shaoraid area of Palash upazila, around 12 kilometres from where the incident occurred. Islam Khan, a leader of the Shibpur Fire Service, said divers had recovered three bodies from the river and that the search for the remaining missing person is continuing. Mohammad Kohinur Mia, officer-in-charge of Shibpur Model Police Station, said efforts to locate Shanto are still underway.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam on Saturday urged journalists to criticise the government’s mistakes and shortcomings, but also provide positive suggestions to help the country move forward without creating unnecessary obstacles to its functioning. “The government’s mistakes and shortcomings should be criticised, but alongside criticism, positive suggestions should be given so that the country can move forward without creating unnecessary obstacles to the government’s journey,” he said. DSCC administrator pledges to turn city areas greener Abdus Salam made the remarks as the chief guest at a programme organised at the IDB Bhaban in Kakrail in the capital on the occasion of the fifth founding anniversary of The Daily Bangladesh Diary. He said journalism is an integral part of society and newspapers are regarded as the fourth estate of the state. “Journalists have responsibilities to the country, the people and society. Journalists played an unforgettable role in various movements and struggles of the country, including the Liberation War. By highlighting irregularities and shortcomings in society and criticising them, they play a role in guiding society in the right direction,” he said. Referring to the Liberation War, Abdus Salam said more than 50 years have passed since independence, but the country has yet to reach its desired destination. “One of the main objectives of the Liberation War against Pakistan was to institutionalise democracy and establish people’s rights. But democracy has stumbled repeatedly,” he said. He said the country’s democratic journey had begun anew after 17 to 19 years of movements and struggles. “Everyone must remain aware so that this journey is not disrupted and the country does not once again fall off the path of democracy,” he said. Addressing journalists, he said positive criticism is necessary to help the country move forward. “But unnecessary obstacles should not be created in the government’s journey. It is not possible to solve all the electricity and gas problems within five or six months of taking responsibility. The government should be given positive suggestions on how these problems can be solved,” he said. Talking about urban management in Dhaka, Abdus Salam said the city management system was largely in disarray when he assumed responsibility. “Battery-run rickshaws, hawkers and waterlogging are longstanding problems. Most areas of Old Dhaka have not undergone systematic development. Many drains have also lost their capacity to drain rainwater. As a result, areas including Dhanmondi, New Market and Green Road become waterlogged after even light rainfall,” he said. Regarding plans to control battery-run rickshaws, he said Dhaka South City Corporation is planning to divide its area into four zones so that rickshaws from one area could not enter another. “Alongside preventing rickshaws from Narayanganj and surrounding areas from entering Dhaka, efforts are being made to bring the rickshaws under registration. There are also plans to use solar power instead of illegally using electricity to charge their batteries,” he said. He urged citizens to become more aware of dengue prevention, saying the three-month programme could not be implemented by the city corporation alone. “Everyone has to come forward. Houses, courtyards, rooftops and nearby drains must be kept clean. Water should not be allowed to remain stagnant anywhere for more than three days,” he said. Abdus Salam also stressed the importance of planting trees to protect the environment. He urged journalists, editors and newspaper owners to play their role in raising public awareness. “If everyone works together, Bangladesh will move much further forward and Dhaka will become a clean and green city,” he said.

Two books authored by former Bangladeshi diplomats - "Serendipity in Diplomacy, Between Protocol & Politics", a memoir by Ambassador Mahmud Hasan and "In Search of a Role Model" by Ambassador M. Fazlul Karim - were launched in Dhaka on Saturday. The books were launched at a programme organised by the Association of Former Ambassadors of Bangladesh (AOFA) at the Foreign Service Academy. Ambassador Farooq Sobhan, a former foreign secretary and former ambassador, attended the programme as the chief guest. Ambassador Golam Mohammad, Secretary General of AOFA, delivered the welcome remarks, while AOFA President Ambassador Abdullah Al-Hasan moderated the discussion sessions on both books.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has said necessary alignment will be introduced between Bangla and English medium curricula to bring Bangladesh’s education system up to global standards. He said students, regardless of their medium of education, must have a common minimum standard of foundational knowledge, skills and learning outcomes. “To achieve this, coordinated initiatives involving all types of educational institutions, both public and private, will be taken in four key areas—curriculum, infrastructure, teacher training and technology,” he said. The State Minister made the remarks while addressing the School Leaders Conference 2026, organised by Oxford AQA International Qualifications at a city hotel in Dhaka on Saturday. “We do not merely want to follow the world’s best practices; our dream is that one day, other countries will look to Bangladesh for the best practices in education,” he said. Bobby said the government is prepared to invest the necessary time, funds and effort to achieve the goal. He stressed that whether a student studies in Bangla medium, English medium or another stream, a common standard of foundational knowledge and skills must be ensured. “While there may be differences between high-performing and lower-performing institutions, there should not be significant disparities in curriculum or the fundamental quality of education,” he said. Highlighting the need for rapid reform in primary education, the State Minister said clear minimum standards should be established for school hours, effective learning time, classroom capacity, infrastructure and teacher training. “Teachers should not be assigned classroom responsibilities without proper training,” he said.

The water level of the Padma River in Daulatpur upazila has continued to rise, leaving around 60,000 people stranded in 35 villages in the char areas of Ramkrishnapur and Chilmari unions. The river rose by 3 centimetres in the past 24 hours and was flowing just 75 centimetres below the danger level at the Hardinge Bridge point on Saturday morning. According to the Hydrology Division of the Pabna Water Development Board (PWDB), the water level was recorded at 13.05 metres at 9:00am on Saturday, against the danger level of 13.80 metres. It was 13.02 metres at the same time on Friday. The water level had been rising by around 10 to 12 centimetres a day over the past week. However, the rate of increase slowed considerably in the past 24 hours. Ilias Hossain, executive engineer of the PWDB Hydrology Division, said the rise was caused by heavy rainfall and an influx of upstream water. “However, the rate of increase slowed to 3 centimetres in the last 24 hours. It is too early to say whether the water level will continue to rise,” he said. Floodwaters have inundated large areas of Ramkrishnapur and Chilmari unions, as well as low-lying char areas of Philipnagar Union, disrupting road communication. Abdul Mannan, Chairman of Chilmari Union Parishad, said 17 of the union’s 19 villages have been flooded, leaving around 30,000 people stranded. He said the situation on Saturday was slightly better than during the previous two or three days as the rate of water-level rise had slowed. Ramkrishnapur Union Parishad Chairman Siraj Mondal said all 16 villages in the union were surrounded by floodwater, with roads submerged and boats and makeshift rafts becoming the only means of transport. More than 30,000 people are stranded in the union, he said. Upazila Agriculture Officer Rehena Parveen said around 351 hectares of farmland in Chilmari, Ramkrishnapur, Philipnagar and Moricha unions have already been submerged. Chilli and banana growers have suffered the heaviest losses, she said, warning that the damage could increase if the water level continues to rise. Meanwhile, classes have been suspended at 25 government primary schools and three secondary schools in the char areas due to the flooding. Administrative activities at the institutions, however, remain operational, according to the Upazila Education Office. The flooding has also submerged cooking areas and tube wells, causing shortages of food and safe drinking water. Farmers and livestock owners are struggling to protect and feed their animals. Abu Biswas, 65, of Ramkrishnapur, said floodwater had risen to waist level inside his home. “Other members of my family have moved to higher ground. I am somehow staying on a makeshift raised platform,” he said. Julekha Khatun of Char Sonatala said floodwater was flowing through her home after the road collapsed. “Cooking has stopped. I am struggling to arrange meals for my family,” she said. Shymol Mondal said five bighas of his chilli crop had gone underwater. “Movement has become extremely difficult. The elderly members of my family are confined indoors, and we are having to make one meal last for three sittings. We are also very afraid of snakes,” he said. Locals said the presence of venomous snakes has increased in the flooded char areas, raising concerns over public safety. They have called for urgent supplies of dry food and safe drinking water, as well as the deployment of mobile medical teams. Dr Touhidul Hasan Tuhin, upazila health and family planning officer, said the Upazila Health Complex has sufficient stocks of anti-venom. “We are advising people not to waste time going to traditional healers after a snake bite. They should take the patient to hospital immediately,” he said.

Dhaka Zila Parishad Administrator Yasin Ferdous Murad on Saturday said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emerged as a democratic, humane leader before the nation, carrying forward his parents' ideals. He made the remarks while addressing a brief rally held before a procession organised by Dhamrai upazila BNP and its affiliated organisations to mark the party's 48th founding anniversary. Murad, also president of the Dhaka district unit of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, said BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman declared independence, defeated the Pakistani occupation forces and secured the national flag. He said Ziaur Rahman later assumed state power at a critical juncture in the country’s history, abolished the one-party BAKSAL system, and restored multi-party democracy and press freedom. “Bangladesh achieved political, economic and diplomatic success because of Ziaur Rahman’s visionary decisions,” Murad said. He said Ziaur Rahman was killed in what he described as a conspiracy while working for the country. Following his death, Begum Khaleda Zia took up the struggle to restore democracy, the administrator said, adding that she led a nine-year movement that ended autocratic rule and restored parliamentary democracy. He said the BNP had been allowed to serve the people three times under Khaleda Zia’s leadership despite various challenges and conspiracies. “Whenever the BNP assumed state power, it has had to face various crises, including a fragile economy inherited from the previous government,” Murad said. He said Tarique Rahman has also taken responsibility for governing the country amid various challenges, including a shattered economy left by the previous government. “I hope he will also succeed, just as his parents did,” he said.